Carl Paladino won the Republican gubernatorial primary last night in New York, and his victory speech was filled with the same populist anger that helped him beat one-time frontrunner Rick Lazio. “If we’ve learned anything tonight,” Paladino said, “it’s that New Yorkers are as mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!”
Paladino, who will now face Democratic nominee Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, called for the Republican party to unite behind his campaign: “I want everyone in the Republican party who opposed me to know this: You’re welcome to join the people’s crusade.”
Because, Paladino said, “sadly, all Andrew offers us is status Cuomo.”
“Tonight the ruling class knows, they’ve seen it now. They not only know it but they’ve seen it. There’s a people’s revolution.” He continued: “They say I’m too blunt. Well I am. And I don’t apologize for it. They say I’m an angry man, and that’s true. We’re all angry.”
Paladino concluded with a challenge to Cuomo: “I have a message for Andrew Cuomo tonight: Andrew, I challenge you to a series of debates. We have so many questions to ask you, Andrew. Let’s stand toe-to-toe in exchange of ideas, and let the people decide!”
Here’s the whole speech:
